Auburn's defensive line will have a three-year starter back in 2018.
Defensive tackle Dontavius Russell, a fourth-year junior, announced he will return for his senior season with the Tigers.
"I'm grateful for everything the Auburn family has done for me and happy to be apart of it for one more year," Russell wrote via Twitter on Monday.
The 6-foot-3, 310-pound Russell was projected as a fourth-round in the 2018 NFL Draft by Walter Football. It's unclear if he sought the input of the NFL's College Advisory Committee, which grades underclassmen considering early entry into the draft as either first or second-round picks or advises to return to school.
Russell has started all 13 games this season and has 41 tackles with a career-high 6.5 for loss including three sacks, also a career best, and a forced fumble.
The Carrollton, Ga. native has 112 tackles with 11 for loss including 4.5 sacks in his college career.
James Crepea is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @JamesCrepea.